Teams

Fifa Ranking: 65 History: After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia played its first international match against Mexico on 16 August 1992 winning 2–0 with a team of former Soviet Union players, including some born in other former Soviet republics. Led by manager Pavel Sadyrin, It was in Group 5 for the qualification …

Fifa Ranking: 2 History: It is generally believed that the first game of the Brazilian national football team was a 1914 match between a Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo select team and the English club Exeter City, held in Fluminense’s stadium. Brazil won 2–0 with goals by Oswaldo Gomes and Osman, though it is claimed that the …

Fifa Ranking: 56 History: Panama came close to advancing out of the fourth round of the qualifications for the 2014 World Cup. In their last match, which was against the United States, they led 2–1 after 90 minutes and were poised to advance to a playoff against New Zealand, but they conceded two …

Fifa Ranking: 16 History: Football in Mexico was first organized in the early 20th century by European immigrant groups, notable miners from Cornwall, England, and in later years Spanish exiles fleeing the Spanish Civil War. Mexico’s first match was played against Guatemala, which Mexico won 3–2. A series of international friendlies were played against the national representation of Guatemala on …

Fifa Ranking: 26 History: Costa Rica has a long-standing football culture and tradition. The national team made its debut in the Independence Centenary Games held in Guatemala City in September 1921, winning their first game 7–0 against El Salvador. In the final, Costa Rica defeated 6–0 Guatemala to claim the trophy. The football team of Costa Rica …

Fifa Ranking: 8 History: Switzerland earned the silver medal at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. It was beaten 3–0 by Uruguay in the final. The team participated in its first FIFA World Cup in 1934, where it reached the quarter-final before losing to Czechoslovakia. Switzerland again reached the quarter-final stage in 1938, losing to Hungary. Switzerland hosted the tournament in 1954 and …

Fifa Ranking: 18 History: Sweden has traditionally been a strong team in international football, with 11 World Cup appearances and 3 medals in the Olympics. The Swedish team finished second in the 1958 World Cup when it was the host team, being beaten by Brazil 5–2 in the final. Sweden has also finished third twice, in 1950 and 1994. In 1938, …

Fifa Ranking: 4 History: The first match ever recorded by Argentina was against Uruguay. The game was held in Montevideo on 16 May 1901 and Argentina won 3–2. During the first years of its existence, the Argentina national team only played friendly matches against other South American teams. The reasons for this varied, including …

Fifa Ranking: 37 History: The first national team was in the kingdom that existed between the two world wars. The Football Federation of what was then the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was founded in Zagreb in 1919 under the name Jugoslovenski nogometni savez (and admitted into FIFA), and the national team played its …